Cuyahoga Valley: Stanford Road and Part of the Valley Trail Closed for Construction

If you're planning a visit to Cuyahoga Valley in the next couple of weeks, a construction project is about to change access to one of the park's busiest areas. A contractor is removing the old pavement from the former Stanford Road, and several access points will be unavailable while the work is underway. We've pulled together the official details to tell you exactly what's changing on the ground.

The section of the former Stanford Road between Stanford Trailhead and Brandywine Falls is closed for the duration of the project. If Brandywine Falls was your goal for the day by way of this route, you'll need to rethink your plan. The work is scheduled from October 16 to November 2, a short window that still covers two weekends.

Parking takes a hit too. Half of the Stanford Trailhead parking lot is closed, which cuts the number of available spaces significantly. Get there early, especially on weekends and in good weather. The first hours of the morning are still your best shot at finding a spot without circling the lot.

On the trail side, a section of the Valley Trail is closed while the work is done. The good news is there's a fallback right on site. Hikers can use the Stanford Trail to keep going without having to turn back. Just check the signage at the start, since the usual access points are being rearranged around the work zone.

This kind of closure is temporary and meant to repair a worn stretch of road, so there's nothing to worry about for the rest of the season. If you time your visit for after the first week of November, you should find all the access points open again. To plan the rest of your day, your other outings, and the area's highlights, keep the Cuyahoga Valley park guide handy, since we keep it updated as the work and reopenings happen.